World News Roundup: Indian PM Modi looks set to lose state votes; EU's top court says UK can unilaterally stop Brexit

Following is a summary of current world news briefs.

Indian opposition could get a boost as Modi looks set to lose state votes

When Prime Minister Narendra Modi's party won a landslide in India's last general election, in 2014, it grabbed almost all the parliamentary seats in the heartland states of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. But his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) could be about to lose power in the three states - results of recent state assembly elections will be announced from early on Tuesday - which would raise huge questions over Modi's bid for re-election in polls due by May.

Arab League tells Brazil's Bolsonaro Israel embassy move could harm ties

The Arab League has told Brazil's right-wing President-elect Jair Bolsonaro that moving Brazil's embassy in Israel to Jerusalem would be a setback for relations with Arab countries, in a letter seen by Reuters on Monday. Such a move by Bolsonaro, who takes office on Jan. 1, would be a sharp shift in Brazilian foreign policy, which has traditionally backed a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

EU's top court says the UK can unilaterally stop Brexit

The European Union's top court ruled on Monday that the United Kingdom can unilaterally revoke its divorce notice, raising the hopes of pro-Europeans ahead of a crucial vote in the British parliament on Prime Minister Theresa May's divorce deal. Just 36 hours before British lawmakers vote on May's deal, the Court of Justice said in an emergency judgment that London could revoke its Article 50 formal divorce notice with no penalty.

U.S. sanctions three North Korean officials for alleged rights abuses

The United States said on Monday it had sanctioned three North Korean officials, including a top aide to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, for serious human rights abuses and censorship. The U.S. Treasury named the men as Ryong Hae Choe, an aide close to Kim who leads the Workers' Party of Korea Organization and Guidance Department; State Security Minister Kyong Thaek Jong; and Propaganda and Agitation Department head Kwang Ho Pak.

Russia gas pipeline to boost grip on Ukraine, Europe: U.S. diplomat

Russia is seeking to boost its power in Europe and grip over Ukraine with the proposed Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline, the top U.S. energy diplomat said on Monday, in a step-up of Washington's rhetoric against the pipeline. "Through Nord Stream 2, Russia seeks to increase its leverage of the West while severing Ukraine from Europe," Francis Fannon, the U.S. assistant secretary for energy resources at the State Department, told reporters in a teleconference.

Anger, sore eyes and a photograph on the streets of Brussels

Usually, a golden rule for a news photographer covering a scene of angry confrontation is to get close, but not involved. Sometimes, though, it's hard to avoid. In recent days, "yellow vest" protests have spread to Belgium from France. I followed hundreds of people marching through Brussels on Saturday to demand lower fuel prices and better living conditions.

Militia forces Libya's NOC to declare force majeure on biggest oilfield

Libya's National Oil Company (NOC) on Monday declared force majeure on exports from the El Sharara oilfield, which was seized at the weekend by a local militia group. NOC said the shutdown would result in a production loss of 315,000 barrels per day (bpd) at its biggest oilfield, and an additional loss of 73,000 bpd at the El Feel oilfield.

U.N. envoy says Yemen's warring parties 'not there yet' on main issues

U.N. special envoy Martin Griffiths said on Monday Yemen's warring parties had yet to agree on main sticking points in peace talks, including a ceasefire in Hodeidah and reopening Sanaa airport, but that consultations would continue. The talks in Sweden are set to last until Dec. 13. Grifffiths said another round would be held early next year in the effort to end a war pitting the Iranian-aligned Houthi group against the Saudi-backed government of Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.

French protests will cut fourth-quarter GDP growth by 0.1 points: Le Maire

Violent protests in France over the last month will cost the country's economy 0.1 percentage points in the final quarter, French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire told RTL radio on Monday. President Emmanuel Macron will address the country later in the day as he seeks to placate "yellow vest" anti-government protesters who wreaked havoc in Paris this weekend.

Israeli troops raid Palestinian news agency for footage

Israeli soldiers raided the official Palestinian news agency on Monday in the occupied West Bank, a day after suspected Palestinian gunmen opened fire on Israelis outside a nearby Jewish settlement. Wafa, the Palestinian Authority news service, said on its website that troops entered the server room and went through recordings at its main office in West Bank city of Ramallah.

(With inputs from Reuters)